The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-06-15

fully toward the cushioned armchair
by the fire, for bis limbs were enfeebled
by age and he had walked consider
able distance.
But Miss Akerly did not ask him to
sit down and rest; so he took a fresh
grip of his knotty cane and started on
his homeward tramp.
"Good morning to thee, Friend
Anastasia," to which the old lady only
responded with an articulated grunt.
But when he was out of sight she I'M
screwed the lid of the jar, and with an
old silver spoon, worn thin with long
usage, she tested the sweetness of its
contents.
"Jest like them mother used to boil
down with molasses when | was gal"
said she. 81 could most fancy was a
gal ag'in, in the old plum-time, a-cuttin'
across the lots with my son-bonnet
hitched on by one string and the red
dog caperin' at my heels. WAL, wal
1t don't seem like l was close on to
seventy years of age"
Miss Anastasia had some of the wild
plum sauce with her scanty dinner. 1t
gave it a relish. She ate some more
with bread and cheese for her supper.
never did taste nothin' that went
to the right spot like them plums,"
said she. at amt cause they're rel
ishin'-it's cause they make me feel
like l was out in Wisconsin, with the
sassafras leaves turnin' yaller and the
wind BLOWN in my face"
Leah did not know until a neighbours
boy brought back the jar, neatly wrapped
in newspaper, what treat she had
afforded her neighbor.
What is it, Willie?" she asked the
boy.
Its the jar that had the wild plum
sass in t." said Willie. "Miss Akerly
says she's much obliged-and she gave
me ginger cookey for bringing it
back, she did"
Father" said Leah, rather re-
proachfully, :" this is thy doings.
Thee is always thinking of some one
else"
4" 1t has done me more good than if /
had eaten it myself, Leah" said Friend
Decker, apologetically.
Leah ran to him and gave him hug.
"Thee is an old darling, father"
said she; and thee makes me ashamed
of my own temper sometimes"
She put the jar on the top shelf of
the little pantry, and never thought
anything more about it till one day
when she wanted jar to put some
fresh cranberries in. She was in a
hurry, for Miss Anastasia Akerly was
to be buried that afternoon. She had
died as she had lived, sitting alone be-
fore the fire, and this was the day they
had appointed for her funeral.
Friend Decker had expressed de-
sire to attend the obsequies of the kins-
woman who had been so little to him,
and Leah was hurrying through her
work so that she might brush the we'll
worn suit and take a much-needed
stitch in the coarse worsted gloves.
AS she tore off the newspaper wrap
pings she stopped suddenly.
Father" she cried, "here is a
piece of thick, yellowish paper rolled
up and put inside this jar that came
from Friend Anastasia's. What does
thee suppose it is? Father, it is IA willr'
She ran eagerly with it to Friend
Decker. He looked obviously at the
outside.
"Thee is right, Leah" said he.
Friend Anastasia's heart has softened
towards us. This is doubtless the will
she mentioned-the will in favor of
Moses Sawyer. She has sent it to us
to destroy. Nay, daughter, nay" as
as Leah eagerly caught it up and
fastened toward the fire. "Give it
to me. 1t is not for us to make or med
die. If Friend Anastasia wished the
will destroyed she should have done il
herself. l shall take it back to Friend
Johnson, the executor"
Father" cried Leah, " thee would
not give him the will?"
"Does thee think it would be an
honorable thing to destroy it, Leah?'
g If she wanted us to do so, father y
But we have no right to presume
anything of the sort, daughter" rea.
soned Friend Decker, buttoning it uE
under his coat. "Nay, nay, do not
fret" For Leah, overcome by the sud.
den blaze of hope and the after black.
ness Of despair, had burst into flood
of tears. at will be well with us
never fear"
Judge Johnson, the great man of the
neighborhood, received the paper with
some surprise.
december sixth" he read. 4" Hum
this is the latest document she has exc.
cuted. Oh, yes! l remember it very
well; drew it up myself. But why die
you bring it here, Friend Decker?''
The old man briefly related the cir
cumstances.
cold people are apt to be capricious, y
said he. doubtless the trifling mat
ter of the plum sauce pleased her and
she sought to reward u.s. But / should
never take advantage of Friend Moses
by burning the will"
But why in the name of common
sense should you burn it?" said the
judge. Are you in the habit of hav.
ing estates left to you every day that
you dispose of them so readily?"
{" don't think l quite understand
thee, Friend Johnson" said Decker.
But Leah's face frightened like {
rose.
81 see! see!" she cried. Gather
Friend Anastasia has done right, late
! though it be. She has willed the Len
noX farm to thee"
And Leah spoke truly. The deat
woman made tardy reparation in hel
last days, and Friend Decker and hi'
daughter had at last legal possession o.
what should long ago have been thei
own. No amount of reasoning or re
monstrance had availed, but one o
: those sudden touches which, " strikin!